The weather sure has been crazy this year, hasn’t it? This week we’re finally out of the abnormal heat and the “no rain” cycle as it looks like Mother Nature will be using her watering can on us for the next few days – of course the forecast keeps saying ‘chance of rain’, so we’ll see how it all pans out.

I’m actually hoping for rain – not the ‘normal’ hope for the Pacific Northwest since everyone thinks it rains here all the time, but Mother Nature scoffs at those people. Well, except when the out-of-towners show up, then she cackles and sends the rain pouring down. You know that’s how it works, right? She’s in cahoots with Murphy and his Law. Just sayin’.

But enough about the weather! It’s Monday, which means that it’s time for some music! This week is a freebie, so grab your favorite tune(s) and come dance along, won’t you?

Let’s start with the lead single from this group’s fifth album, which is a rousing call for society to take up arms. They were quoted as saying:

“[This song] is a song for all of us. It’s a song about freedom, about persistence, about change and about fighting for what you believe in. It is a call to arms but also full of the optimism and hope that is such an integral part of the American Dream.”

This lyric video for the song features user-submitted footage depicting Independence Day in the United States.

Give a listen to 30 Seconds To Mars with “Walk On Water”:

Next up is an ode to ambition that finds this group’s frontman striving to be the best regardless of the obstacles.

Whatever it takes / You take me to the top /I’m ready for whatever it takes /’Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

The frontman wants to accomplish something with his life and is ready to Evolve. This track was apparently the one that took the longest to get right. The drummer was quoted as saying:

“He had the first and pre-chorus really quickly. But the chorus wasn’t right. We went through a ton of ideas and versions before we found the right chord progression and the right melody. Sometimes it’s quick, sometimes it’s not. The process is never the same twice.”

Here’s the talented Imagine Dragons with “Whatever It Takes”:

Next up, while this Georgia-born singer/songwriter happens to be the son of award-winning country crooner Rhett Akins, he didn’t seriously start considering following in his father’s footsteps until his senior year in high school. This artist splits the difference between slick contemporary country and rowdy good-time rock & roll, an equation he put to the test on his 2011 debut single. A self-titled EP appeared early in 2013, and later that year his debut full-length album arrived, and reached number six on the Billboard 200 and the Top 30 in Canada.

Following a steady stream of tracks from his upcoming third studio record, this artist has released one of his most personal to date, this title track of his newest album. He teased the song back in March, noting that its lyrics encapsulate the changes for him and his family over the past few years.

From top to bottom, the song chronicles the successive great moments in this artist’s life, from a college dorm to marrying his wife, the release of “Die a Happy Man” – “I wrote a little song about holding her hand / And now everyone wanna die a happy man,” he sings – to the adoption of his daughter Willa Gray from Uganda in May. The chorus acts as both summary and exclamation point: “You never know what’s going to happen / You make your plans and you hear God laughing / Life changes / And I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Without further ado, here’s the amazing Thomas Rhett with “Life Changes”:

Next up is an artist who I’ve been sharing a couple times recently – I have to give her props for really working on her image with her latest ‘comeback’. Love her or hate her, she really does have an amazing voice. With this newest song, she pays homage to one of her biggest inspirations, Elvis Presley. She was quoted as saying:

“I just think for girls to celebrate being young right now would be a great thing. My mom told me ‘I swear to God, you are younger now at 24 than you were at 4!’ And so it just hit me, like I am f—ing younger now, and I am proud of that.”

The artist is basically Benjamin Button-ing her way through her latest reinvention, or at least that’s what she wants you to believe. This song is the third single from her new album to be released on September 29th.

I don’t know about you, but I’m actually enjoying this ‘reinvention’ of hers – at least she didn’t get so much worse before she wised up. 

Give a listen to Miley Cyrus with “Younger Now”:

That’s a wrap for this week – see you on the dance floor.

Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:   PhotobucketI have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, Callie from JAmericanSpice, and our awesome friend Cathy, from Curious as a Cathy.

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!



9 Comments

  1. I love Imagine Dragons and hadn’t heard this wonderful song. And what is it about these country stars that makes them all so good looking? Thomas Rhett adds just enough rock to his country that I actually like him.

    As for Miley, I’ve had a love hate relationship with her. Although she’s a talented singer, she totally made me hate her after her Super Bowl antics; however, she’s done some good things in terms of working to make the world a better place. I also appreciate her political activism in a direction I agree with, so that has made me love her, again. hopefully, she’ll remain on my good side.

  2. Great choices, today! I really enjoy Imagine Dragons, and I’m really happy to see Miley back to doing more music rather than her shenanigans. I think she is finally growing up!

  3. The 30 Seconds to Mars lyrics and video were AWESOME. I’m discovering, each week, how much I am starting to love Imagine Dragons. “Life Changes” had a lot of truth in the lyrics. And, re Miley, hoping she is finally growing up because she was so busily throwing her talent away during her rebellious years. Showed her sweet side with Ellen at the end that video. No more wrecking balls, Miley, please!

  4. Stacy,

    All new-to-me tunes, my friend. What’s with this all-black outfits with your first three artists? I wish this fashion trend would hurry on out of here. Black is so drab! I really like 30 Seconds to Mars and Imagine Dragons songs. They get me to my feet to dance giving me the energy to tackle another day. Thomas Rhett didn’t do a lot for me but I so appreciated his new Country style. Miley’s outfit brought to mind Elvis Viva Las Vegas costume. Do you see it? lol “Younger Now” is one of Miley’s better songs in recent years. Thanks for sharing the dance floor with me, dear friend. Have a tunetastic week! 😉

  5. Peek-a-boo! hahahaha I made it before the following Monday… so sorry my friend I’ve been so busy I cannot begin to tell you. I had a stress test this week (on my heart) and I have the results too! I’m NORMAL!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA WHO THEY TRYIN’ TO KID!?! I haven’t been normal a day in my life!!!!! Anyway you got some great choices here my friend… now Miley Cyrus though I’ll have to think about that one… not sure if I like that one yet… HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!! LUV U GAL!!!!

Comments are closed.